Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-11-12
WHITE SLAVERY N COLONIAL TINES.

MANY ptIhDuo WHO tpH5inci itiHlH-
selves familiar with the history OF this
country are not aware that in the last
century white men, women, and chill /
dren were held in bondage; that the
colonial laws in favor Of such scrviinde
were as explicit and severe as were those
in support Of negro slavery. Such
white persons owing a personal service !
to individual masters were generally
known MS "term slaves" though their
legal status was represented By the
word 'redemptioner."
Isaac Weld, Jr.. in his book of trav-
els in America, published in the last
century. asserts that il was the custom
OF shipmasiers at Rotterdam and the
Hanse towns to inyegle the people on
to their vessels, under promise of free
passage TO America. On reaching the
colonies announcement of the arrival of
mechanics ard laborcrs would be made.
and persons in want of such would dock
TO the ships, and the poor Germans
would be sold 10 the highest b dders,
the captains pockcting the proceeds.
Redemptioners constituted in the
early part of the eighteenth century a
peculiar feature of colonial anxiety.
They were recruited from among all
manner of people in the old world.
and through this channel Europe emp
tied upon America not only the yir-
tuous poor aud oppressed of her
population. but the Migrants. fell
ons. and the dregs of her communit es.
There was thus established among the
first settlers society that, in many
places. was almost imbued with a NOR
al pestilencc. Among the redemption
crs, however, were a fair propOrt on Of
sturdy souls. strong in purpose and en-
deayor, who appreciated the great OPP
portun.tv created for them by this
complete change of life and country.
| At the expiration of Their term of sery-
ice many. by ilir fl and industry. eleyat.
| ed themselves to respectable positions.
and were absorbed in the middle class.
There were two kinds of redemp-
| TONERS ''indented servants who had
bound themselves TO their masters for
term of years previous TO leaving the
/ old country. and free willers,' who.
/ being without money and DESTROYS OF
/ emigrating, agreed with the captains
4 Oh tilb NNlllS 10 AiADN tliEllasEAsCc VI lAlGaI
families TO I've sold on arrival for the
| captains advantage. and thus repay
cost of passage and other expenses.
The former ndented servants were
often trapped into the engagements by
corrupt agents at home, who persuaded
them all under false promises of tender
and humane treatment, and assurances
of rcnluncrative emplo ment at expra-
ton of service, which would insure
competent provision for the rema n
der of their DAYS. The emigrants often
discovered on arrival that the adyan.
tages to be obtained in America had
been painted BY the agents in much too
aluring colors. Frenquently their
masters forced them 10 most rigid Ia
Dor, and exercised an unnecessary
!, severity.
The free willers suffered even worse
treatment at the hands of shipmaster:
and agents. They were led 10 believe
that on arrival in America the r ser.
services would be eagerly sole ted bS
persons who would gladly pay the cos
OF their passages; VIII ch being only 80
the emigrants would soon be able t,
repay. aud thus secure their liberty and
all the enjOym mt and prosperity thai
the new country offered 10 adventurer
Agreements were entered into where
by these deludcd ones bound them
selves, that il, on arrival, they dill moi
succeed within n certain number o
days in securing employment on thei
own terms, they conld be sold for
term of years 10 dcfray the charges 70
their passages. Alas! The ''free will
, ers, " til rare exceptions. had rud
! awakening on reaching the colonies
, Under their agreements the captain
! had legal len on the persons of iii
emigrants unit the ship charges wer
/ paid; consequently they were not al
} | lowed TO 90 on shore. but were OK
, | posed TO view on deck to the penpl
! who came on board in search of ser
E wants. Except in cases Of extraordinar
e qualifications, very few of them wer
J happy enough to make their own stip
, ulaii1ns, aud they found themselve
r sold for several years Of tedious labol
1 and serv tiile.
/ The terms and conditions of servic
differed in different colonies Anon
2 the arch, yes of the PENNSYLVANIA II !
: torical So .ietv are some or ginal boGd-
k or agreements, between ship captain
e and redcmptioners. From them W
8 learn that the usual price pa d in iha
L colony for three years scrv &c was E2l
o Is. and Gil. Whom his time had cS
: PRED man was entitled 10 receive tw
e suits of Clothes. agrubbing hoe. a wee,
c ing hoe, aud new ax. Ch ldren sol
Q for from IS to LILO, and Their master
were required 10 see that they wcr
g taught 10 read and write. aud had ;
o least one quarters schooling.
c In New Jerscy-according to Lean
!. ing and Spicer '--no VIII te servant,
is sold or bound after IL years of ag
le could serve above four years. Ii undo
z that age, they were TO be free on reacl
10 ing their majority. At the expiraiio
n of service their masters were obi gcd
1t supply them with two good suits
70 clothing, suitable for a servant or
good telling ax. one good hoe, and Sc
m en- bushels of Indian corn. A snrvai
X was to he Immediately freed in case
n. be NC so abused by master or mistrc
IA as TO result in the loss of an eve or
s. tooth. The laws against aiding +
IN demption SITS TO escape were very s.
ID we're. A fine of f5 was imposed (,
We Offering assistance in such cases, M
Re the alder and abettor was obliged
k make full satisfaction TO the master
SO mistress for all loss, damage or CO
is sustained BY the absence of or scar,
for the runaway. Any one who co
h cealed or entertained an abscoud ng +
nj ,lemptioner could be fined at the d
n. erection Of the court, and be made
al pay 10 shillings to the owner for ca
Nv Ilay he hal harbored the servant